Improvement in pepe-tongs



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Letters Patent No. 90,307, dated .May 18,1869.

- INIPROVEMENT IN PIPE-TONG-S.

The Schedule referre to in these Letters Patent and making part 'of the same.

To all whom it ma/y concern.-

Be it known that I, BERNERD RLLEY, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented a certain new and improved implement. or tool, which I have chosen to call an improved Adjustable Gas-Pipe Tongs and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a front View, and Y Figure-2 is an edge view of my device.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it, as follows:

-This invention consists in an improved method ofV constructing gas-pipe tongs, wherebythey are made adj ustahle, and conveniently adapted for use on variously-sized pipes. Their construction may be thus described:

One ofthe legs of the tongs A has its end bent L- shaped, or into an acute-angular form, as shown in iig. 1, the inner edge of which, bearing against the pipe, is provided with a series of teeth or indentures. This leg of the tongs A is pivoted in common manner with the other leg B at the point C.'

To this second leg B, is attached my device for adjusting and varying the capacity of the tongs, which device consists simply in a gib, I), and key E, inserted intoa strap, F, which is welded solid with the tongsleg B, in manner as shown in drawings. This key E may be made either of iron, case-hardened, or of steel, or if it be preferred, it may be of iron, steel-pointed, Where it acts against the pipe.

The gib D, which is placed at the back of the key, is made of wrought-iron,l and is, with the key, properly iinished, and tted in the strap F. The gib and key are each tapered in the usual manner, and where they each pass by the leg ofthe tongs A, they may be slightly thinned down, so that they may properly clear the leg. The strap F, which I propose to .weld solid with the tongs-leg, may, if it should be desired, be made separate, and afterwards secured to tongs, either by rivets, screws, or otherwise.

The operation of my invention, which will be readily understood, is as follows:

The tongs are made to encompass the pipe intended to be operated upon, the key and gib being left loose;

the tongs are slightly opened, and the point of the key placed in contact with the pipe; the gib is then driven hard and fast, to securely set the keyin given position, when, by closing the tongs with pressure, it will be perceived that the point of the key, engaging with the pipe, will bite into it, and, in conjunction with the opposite part of the other leg A, against which the pipe is pressed, attain a firm and eiective grip upon the pipe, enabling the operator to wrench it around with facility. The variation of the capacity of the tongs is attained by setting in or out the key E suitably to the size of the pipe. I may, if I desire, insert a small wedge between the head of `the ,key E and the point of the tongs-leg at C, with the object of preventing any possible bending of the key-head when under great strain.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A gas-pipe tongs, with the combined parts arranged and constructed in the manner substantially as herein described, and for the purposes as above set forth.

BERNERD RILEY.

Witnesses PETER FREDERICK WEST, GEORGE WASHINGTON J oNEs. 

